Cataract surgery — replacing the natural lens with an intraocular lens
The short answer
Cataract surgery removes the clouded natural lens of the eye and replaces it with an intraocular lens (IOL). Gangnam Central Eye Clinic does not decide the timing of surgery on the degree of clouding alone: if your vision is reasonable for your age and the cataract causes little trouble in daily life, the doctor will tell you that it is fine to wait. No single lens is promoted; the lens is chosen by looking at the condition of your cornea, astigmatism and pupil size together with your work, hobbies, night-time activities and how much you read.
When is surgery needed — when can you wait and when should you not?
| Situation | What is advised |
|---|---|
| Distance and near vision are good for your age, glasses are not a nuisance, and you notice no problems with vision or visual field | The doctor will suggest waiting for now |
| You have glaucoma (with a risk of angle closure), or in older age the cataract is advanced and progressing to an intumescent (swollen) cataract | Preventive surgery is needed even if vision is still good |
| Severe dry eye, such as with Sjögren's syndrome | The decision leans towards waiting |
How is the intraocular lens chosen?
- Lenses used: the main lens is J&J Odyssey. Also used: J&J Synergy (for people who do a lot of close work or reading), PureSee (when night driving and contrast sensitivity matter), Eyhance (monofocal clarity with improved intermediate vision), Alcon PanOptix and PanOptix Pro (when a trifocal lens suits the eye), and Alcon Vivity (keeping glare to a minimum while staying active).
- When a multifocal (rather than monofocal) lens is not recommended: · Jobs where glare and light sensitivity are a problem — people who drive a lot at night, night-time taxi or lorry drivers · Advanced glaucoma with reduced contrast sensitivity — a multifocal lens would make vision darker and more restricted · Retinal disease such as macular degeneration or an epiretinal membrane (macular pucker), optic atrophy, or pupils that are naturally very small or very large
- When the doctor will talk it through with you again, even if it is what you want: you want a monofocal lens although you do a lot of close work such as reading scripture or cooking / you work mainly at distance, such as a golf caddie or a night-time driver, but want a near-focused multifocal lens / you are a perfectionist and extremely sensitive to glare but want a multifocal lens.
Examination and surgery
- What matters most before presbyopia-cataract surgery: the condition of the cornea, dry eye, and the accuracy of the intraocular lens power. These are measured several times to narrow the margin of error.
- Before surgery, any general medical conditions and medicines you take are checked; during surgery, vital signs such as blood pressure and pulse are monitored continuously, and emergency medicines and equipment are kept ready.
- Anaesthesia: anaesthetic eye drops are standard, and being put to sleep is, as a rule, not necessary.
- Equipment: LENSAR (femtosecond laser), CENTURION, ZEISS Lumera surgical microscope.
- Both eyes: for safety and to prevent infection, the two eyes are usually operated on one or two days apart.
Recovery and follow-up
| When | What is checked |
|---|---|
| The day after surgery | Eye pressure, signs of inflammation (uveitis), position of the intraocular lens |
| 1 week | Wound healing, early recovery of vision |
| 1 month | Whether vision has stabilised |
| 3–6 months | Whether posterior capsule opacification (secondary cataract) has developed, condition of the retina |
| After that | Check-up once a year (including related conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration) |
- Light daily activity from the next day; recovery over 2–4 weeks (varies by person). Washing your face and showering after 1 week; sauna after 1 month.
- Follow-up visits: the day after surgery, 1 week, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months.
If your vision becomes hazy again after surgery — posterior capsule opacification
After an outpatient consultation, it is treated in the laser room with a YAG laser in under 5 minutes. Discomfort and recovery vary from person to person.
Costs and insurance
Costs depend on your examination results and on the type of surgery, and fees for international patients are given after consultation. If you contact us by telephone or email before you travel, we will explain in advance so that nothing comes as a surprise when you arrive. — The cost varies considerably with the type of intraocular lens.
If you hold Korean private indemnity health insurance (silson insurance), a monofocal lens may be covered depending on your policy terms, while the non-covered material cost of a multifocal lens may be excluded. This depends on your insurer and policy, so please check with your insurer.
If you are travelling from abroad
- The two eyes are usually operated on one or two days apart, and the first follow-up is the check-up the day after surgery. The length of your stay is planned with you at consultation around this schedule.
- If you have a medical condition or take regular medication, please bring a list of your medicines — it is one of the things checked before surgery.
- Contact: telephone +82-2-555-1369 · email gnceyecenter@naver.com · WhatsApp · consultation languages on the registration: Korean, English and Chinese
Side effects and individual differences
Cataract and lens surgery carries the possibility of side effects, including glare or halos, reduced contrast sensitivity, and, rarely, infection inside the eye, raised eye pressure, clouding of the lens capsule after surgery, retinal detachment or a lens that sits out of position. A multifocal lens may take time to adjust to, and glasses may still be needed for some distances. Results differ from person to person. Please decide only after a precision examination and consultation with your doctor.
If dry eye is very severe before surgery, if there is age-related fine clouding of the cornea, or if astigmatism is high, you may notice more glare and hazy vision because of residual astigmatism. Dry eye and fine corneal clouding that can be treated are treated first, and in some cases the outcome is better when surgery follows that treatment.
Frequently asked questions (18)
Do I need surgery now, or can I wait?
If your vision is good for your age and the cataract causes little trouble in daily life, you can wait. However, if you have glaucoma (with a risk of angle closure) or the cataract is progressing to an intumescent cataract, preventive surgery is needed even if your vision is still good.
Do I have to have a lens implant?
Cataract surgery means removing the clouded natural lens and placing an intraocular lens in its place. Which lens is used is decided from your examination and the way you live.
Which lens should I choose?
No single "main" lens is pushed. The choice takes into account the condition of your cornea, astigmatism and pupil size, together with your work, hobbies, night-time activities, how much you read and how long you use your phone.
With a multifocal lens, will I never need glasses again?
That is not promised. It means the distances at which you need glasses may be fewer — not that you will need none at any distance.
When is a multifocal lens not recommended?
If you drive a lot at night or work in a job where glare is a problem, if advanced glaucoma has reduced your contrast sensitivity, if you have macular degeneration, an epiretinal membrane or optic atrophy, or if your pupils are naturally very small or very large.
Do I need a toric (astigmatism-correcting) lens?
It depends on how much astigmatism you have. With high astigmatism, residual astigmatism can make glare and haziness more noticeable, so this is built into the lens choice and the surgical plan.
Are both eyes done at the same time?
For safety and to prevent infection, the two eyes are usually operated on one or two days apart.
What kind of anaesthesia is used?
Anaesthetic eye drops are standard, and being put to sleep is, as a rule, not necessary. If you feel very nervous, this is discussed separately at consultation.
Can I have surgery if I am older or have other health conditions?
Before surgery, your general health and medicines are checked; during surgery, blood pressure and pulse are monitored continuously, and emergency medicines and equipment are kept ready. Whether surgery is possible is decided through the examination and consultation.
When can I get back to normal life?
Light daily activity is possible from the next day, with recovery over 2–4 weeks. For the first week, take care not to get water in the eye. This varies from person to person.
When can I wash my face, shower or go to a sauna?
Washing your face and showering from 1 week after surgery, and the sauna from 1 month.
Can my vision become hazy again after surgery?
Posterior capsule opacification (secondary cataract) can develop. It is treated as an outpatient with a YAG laser in under 5 minutes, and the course varies from person to person.
How often are check-ups after surgery?
Check-ups are the day after surgery, then at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months; after that, an annual check-up also looks for related conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.
If something goes wrong, can I have revision surgery?
The cause is identified first — whether it comes from the lens or from another eye condition — and the next step is decided from there. The clinic also treats patients needing revision after presbyopia or cataract surgery.
What if a premium lens does not suit me?
If you are not satisfied after premium lens surgery, there is a process in which lens exchange and further consultation are discussed together. The conditions and steps are explained at consultation.
Will my insurance cover it?
If you hold Korean private indemnity health insurance, a monofocal lens may be covered depending on your policy terms, while the non-covered material cost of a multifocal lens may be excluded. This depends on your insurer and policy, so please check with them.
Can international patients have cataract surgery here?
Yes. The clinic is registered as a medical institution for foreign patients (M-2021-01-08-6311), and the consultation languages on that registration are Korean, English and Chinese.
How much does it cost?
It varies considerably with the type of intraocular lens, and fees for international patients are given after consultation.